Alongside Apple’s WWDC announcement the company opened the App Design Awards nomination page for iOS and Mac developers.

Through the website developers can sign up and nominates apps for the awards. In order to be considered developers must have their apps available in the App Store or Mac App Store by May 1. It is worth noting that Apple can nominate apps that catch the company’s eye regardless of their standing with other developers.

Apple’s criteria for apps considered for the award are as follows:

Well-Designed
Apps that are inviting, engaging, easy to use, intuitive, and compelling.

State of the Art
Apps that take advantage of the latest hardware, OS releases, and technologies to offer rich functionality, high performance, and extensive system integration.

Innovative
Apps that are revolutionary, inspiring, and do things in new and creative ways.

Winners will receive an Apple Design Award trophy and Apple usually throws in some nice Apple gear or other prizes. Last year’s winners included iPhone apps Infinity Blade, Golfscape GPS Rangefinder, and Cut the Rope as well as iPad apps djay for iPad, Our Choice, and Osmos. Mac winners included Capo, Pixelmator, and Anomaly Warzone Earth.

Apple will hand out the awards at WWDC and will include awards for student developers again as well as the winners of Apple's new scholarship program.